What Is MetaTrader?

MetaTrader is an electronic trading software created by MetaQuotes Software Corp. for online trading in Forex, CFD, equities, futures, and options. It allows advanced charting (with multiple built-in indicators), multiple-account, and multiple-window management, setting all types of market orders (except for OCO), and features a C-like programming language (MQL4 and MQL5) that allows development of the custom indicators, scripts, and trading robots (called expert advisors in MetaTrader). But the most important feature of MetaTrader is that it is free for traders (brokers pay for their server-side software). The sample view of the MetaTrader platform is shown below:

As of today, there are two major versions of this Forex trading platform – MetaTrader 4 (or MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (or MT5). The former is more popular as there are not so many Forex brokers that offer live trading via MetaTrader 5. Initially, there were two main differences between the fourth and fifth versions of the platform:

Unlike MT4, in MT5 a trader could hold only one position in one currency pair at a time. You could not hedge positions in MT5. If you sent a Sell order with an open Buy position, the order will close the position rather than open a second position in an opposite direction. It was done to comply with the US FIFO regulation and to reduce the impact of overnight swaps on the traders' accounts.

Nowadays, both differences have been mostly removed as MQL4 now accepts MQL5 syntax, and MetaTrader 5 offers hedging accounts.

It is easy to trade with MetaTrader. The platform consists of several standard windows and toolbars:

Chart windows – display charts and indicators – this is where you analyze your currency pairs.

Market watch – a list of symbols available for trading along with the most current Bid/Ask rates.

MetaTrader is popular because of its advantages; here is the list of them:

Free software. You do not have to pay anything. You can download the platform from any MetaTrader broker or from MetaQuotes website, open a demo account via it, and use it for chart analysis even if you trade with a non-MetaTrader broker.

Simplicity and customization – there is no terminology to learn, and everything is done in 2–3 clicks. Charts and windows can be customized without any problems by any trader.

Ability to create your own indicators and expert advisors. After some basic coding training you will be able to create your own tools that will fit your personal trading style.

High popularity means a lot of user-created content. There are thousands indicators and expert advisors written by other traders and available for free download for your MetaTrader.

Account history and reports. You can customize your reports and see a good statistical analysis in the standard MetaTrader account reports.

Of course, nothing is ideal in this world and MetaTrader is not an exception. It has its own disadvantages:

Having to install the software. Although it has both web-based and mobile versions, MetaTrader should be downloaded and installed on the trader’s computer to use its full potential – this can be a problem for some people. Many brokers nowadays offer a powerful web-based trading platforms that can be ran online inside the browser without installing anything and offering more features than the web version of MetaTrader.

No real support for that user-created software. If you download some indicator or expert advisor, you will not get too much help with it, and using third-party expert advisors may even be dangerous.

No "One Cancels Other" orders. You cannot set two orders and tell the platform to cancel one when the other triggers. You can achieve this functionality by creating a custom expert advisor or a script – but that cannot compare to the standard OCO option.

Now you know what MetaTrader is and why it is so popular among the Forex traders worldwide. If its advantages attract you, you may want to consider downloading the platform and trying it on a demo account.

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